Chipper takes shots at drug cheaters (though he considered it)
Chipper Jones knows when his career is over, he will have done it right way. (Jason Getz/AJC)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – There was a time when he considered it. Chipper Jones thought about taking a pill, sticking a needle in his arm, doing whatever it is cheaters do in hopes of gaining an edge and fooling us into believing the mutant statistics all came about from hard work and whey shakes.
“Yeah. I mean, definitely,” the Braves’ almost-40 third baseman said Monday when asked if he ever considered using performance-enhancing drugs. “You see peers doing it. You see contemporaries on other teams doing it and putting up [big] numbers. But at that point in my career, while I didn’t have kids yet, and I thought, I don’t want to jeopardize their lives [with the backlash] one day.”
On Monday, Braves players were given a presentation from a team doctor on what substances to stay away from.
“I can pretty much recite it from year to year,” Jones said, and the banned list didn’t include the yogurt he happened to be eating at the time.
Jones will go into the Hall of Fame one day. He will be in a special group of players who, as he said, “have done it right. The guys who get done with their career and make it through the so-called steroid era unscathed, that’s a huge feather in our cap.”
There have never been any allegations against Jones. No smoking syringe. No leaked grand jury testimony with his name on it. No chapter in a Jose Canseco book.
Still, Jones’ father wanted to know for sure. “A few years ago,” according to Chipper, the elder Larry Jones asked him point blank if he had ever cheated.
Jones believes "less than one percent" of players in the majors still take performance-enhancing drugs. (Jason Getz/AJC)
“I can just imagine what my dad would’ve said if he found out that four, five or six years out of my career he knew that I was cheating,” Jones said. “He told me as much. He said, ‘Please tell me you never did that.’ I said, ‘I never did.’ He said, ‘I can’t think of anything that would disappointment me more than finding out that you did something like that.’ I said, ‘Well, you don’t have to worry about that.’”
Performance-enhancing drugs are in the news again. Ryan Braun, the National League’s Most Valuable Player last season, failed a drug test last October. He had extraordinarily elevated levels of testosterone. He was suspended for the first 50 games of this season but had the penalty overturned by an appeal. Braun and his legal team did not question the science of the test but rather the protocol, and won the appeal on a technicality: The sample was stored in the tester’s home over a weekend because he believed Federal Express was closed.
Jones understands why Major League Baseball is livid over the arbitration panel’s decision: “Now the integrity of every positive test is going to be scrutinized. They’re going to have to back-check everything,” he said.
But he didn’t openly question Braun.
“I feel like I know Ryan pretty well — he would’ve been one of the guys who never would’ve considered to have done it,” Jones said. “If he went to the lengths that he did to clear his name, I believe him. I just don’t know how someone could be so negligent. If he did [take something], he got lucky. If he didn’t, he was rightly vindicated.”
But haven’t Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens gone to great lengths to clear their names?
“Sure — and did they? Why was [Bonds] convicted of [obstruction of justice]? Why would he lie?”
Jones believes the used of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, while not completely eradicated, is way down. He estimated that at its peak, 20 percent of the league was using, or five players per team. His breakdown: “I would say one of the numbers producers, one of the stud pitchers and the other two or three were down at the end of the roster, trying to stay out of Triple A.”
And now?
“Less than one percent,” he said. “Guys just don’t do it anymore. You’ve seen what happens to the reputations of the guys who even remotely are considered to have done it. It’s so not worth it.”
He said players in general know who’s using and who isn’t. “Let’s just say there’s an aura about them,” he said, laughing.
For what it’s worth, he said some PED users should be allowed in the Hall, the deciding factor being whether they would have had the credentials without drugs.
That’s not an issue for Jones. He has done it right way and has the credentials: 454 homers, 1,561 RBI, 2,615 hits, a .304 career average.
He turns 40 in April. He has been non-committal about playing after this season, health obviously being a significant unknown. But we can be certain of one thing: He won’t resort to chemistry to play another year.
By Jeff Schultz
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241 comments Add your comment
Chris
February 27th, 2012
2:18 pm
This is why he is one of my favorite players of all time. Class act, one of the greatest 3B and switch-hitters of all time. No doubt a first ballot HOFer.
Blindog
February 27th, 2012
2:19 pm
Season almost here….can’t wait!!!!
Thrashers Fan
February 27th, 2012
2:20 pm
Great read!
I’ll be so sad the day Chipper hangs up the cleats and walks away from the game :’(
just sayin'
February 27th, 2012
2:21 pm
will be able to hold his head high..
Paul
February 27th, 2012
2:21 pm
Have to agree with Chipper’s father. Finding out Chipper ever used PED’s would be the final straw that breaks my faith in Major League Baseball.
joey
February 27th, 2012
2:21 pm
first
Blindog
February 27th, 2012
2:22 pm
Thanks Jeff… as always great work.
Voice of Reason
February 27th, 2012
2:22 pm
Great article about a truly great player.
Tim
February 27th, 2012
2:23 pm
And this folks is why everyone young baseball should look up to Chipper Jones as a role model for how to play baseball the right way! Thanks Chipper!
Brandon f
February 27th, 2012
2:24 pm
Good spelling Schultz. Who wrote the article? Your kids?
Sose
February 27th, 2012
2:25 pm
I’m glad that Chipper never resorted to using PED’s. I do agree with him that some of the persons who have been caught still deserve HOF consideration. If they let Gaylord Perry in, for example, then Clemens and Bonds, and few others, also should be in. I also think it’s a shame that Rose isn’t in there! I guess I’ve just come to accept the fact that baseball players are humans, they make mistakes too. Not all of them deserve a “death sentence” when it comes to the HOF.
Vanakatherock
February 27th, 2012
2:34 pm
Well, when he’s finally done, he’ll have a hitting coach job waiting for him after he retires, here in Atlanta.
phil
February 27th, 2012
2:34 pm
I take him at his word. Play til you’re 50, Chipper.
Why wasn’t he asked which of his teammates did this stuff? He wouldn’t have said, of course, but WAS the question asked?
And Fire FG!!
RICO
February 27th, 2012
2:37 pm
I’ll go ahead and say it since nobody else did…FIRST!!!! C’mon
UGABugKiller
February 27th, 2012
2:38 pm
I’ll be honest…
… I always, in the back of my mind, wondered about his 1999 MVP season. The career-highs, and then, the nagging injuries that followed the next few years in particular, from a guy who was like steel before.
But I believe in Chipper Jones here. If he says he didn’t, I believe him. I’ll no longer worry about the 1999 season, or wonder if we’ll hear something 10 years down the line.
Chipper’s word is good enough for me.
Benjamin
February 27th, 2012
2:38 pm
I will admit here that I always thought he did use PEDs.
Good read. The discussion with his dad was a great excerpt.
Well...
February 27th, 2012
2:40 pm
Didn’t Rose bet against the team he was managing? That’s worse than steroids in my book, because he actually had control over an entire team, not just his own body.
George Stein
February 27th, 2012
2:44 pm
Is this where we say that the yogurt he was eating was probably frozen yogurt (covered in sprinkles and chocolate sauce)?
ohhhYEAH
February 27th, 2012
2:51 pm
Firstly, I do think Chipper is, and always has been clean. He’s just a great player.
However, I disagree completely that “some players who have done PEDs should be allowed in if they would have had the creds without them,” becuase theres NO WAY to know which part of their performance was due to the drugs and which weren’t, there’s just no way.
Also, I do think it’s a shame that Pete Rose isnt in the HOF. Sure, he was a moron for betting against his team and tanking games while he MANAGED, but that has absolutely no effect on the way he played the game. So don’t let him in the HOF as a manager, but DONT keep him out of the Hall for what he did on the field, it robs baseball of a truly great player.
ATL Fan
February 27th, 2012
2:54 pm
Ryan Braun will always have the guilt of PED use against unless he can prove his innocents. It would require that he prove that someone tampered with his sample. Otherwise, he tested positive and avoided a suspension because of a 2-1 decision that the sample was not properly handled. (Not that it was an incorrect test result).
This should scare all MLB players. Stay away, far away from anything that could provide a positive (even a false positive). It ain’t worth it.
coach joe
February 27th, 2012
2:56 pm
Nice read. If Chipper juiced,I would give up baseball for good.
Go Braves..
ATL Fan
February 27th, 2012
2:56 pm
(Forgive the typo “innocence”)
J
February 27th, 2012
2:59 pm
Jones understands why Major League Baseball is lived over the arbitration panel’s decision
You mean livid, right?
PMC
February 27th, 2012
3:06 pm
So he’s saying that he won’t have to explain one day why the urine sample give has say a 20-1 ratio of testosterone in it?
PMC
February 27th, 2012
3:08 pm
*that he gave
1eyedJack
February 27th, 2012
3:13 pm
Take it from someone who had to take steroids “legally” for 9 years. If your life don’t depend on them don’t do them. I’m still dealing with the side effects 15 years later.
CT Braves Fan
February 27th, 2012
3:15 pm
Rose never bet against his team or tanked games. He always bet on this team to win. The problem with that is it still leads to questionable decision making (e.g. did he burn out his bullpen to win a particular game since he wasn’t betting on the next day’s game etc.). Every MLB clubhouse has had signs posted and known that “thou shalt not gamble.” Rose deserves to be outside the HOF for doing what he did, even though he bet for his team to win.
Kevin
February 27th, 2012
3:15 pm
Just look at Julio Franco. If you take care of your body the right way, you can play well into your 40’s.
wxwax
February 27th, 2012
3:22 pm
I just wish somebody, somewhere, would take MBL to task for leaking information.
The testing is supposed to be confidential. But MLB is trying to cover-up its mistake in the testing protocol by leaking all of Braun’s tests results.
Regardless of Braun’s guilt or innocence. MLB is clearly violating part of the agreement.
Why should any player help or respect MLB’s testing program when baseball’s vindictive hierarchy responds to its own protocol violations by smearing the player in a tidal wave of leaks?
what of it?
February 27th, 2012
3:24 pm
Would love to see an expose on the teams who benefited the most from the steroid era. I’m pretty sure the Yankees would lead that list. I don’t think anyone could accuse chipper of using PED’s either, given how frequently he was injured throughout his career.
Stuart
February 27th, 2012
3:28 pm
Jones understands why Major League Baseball is LIVED over the arbitration panel’s decision…
Jones believes the USED of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, while not completely eradicated, is way down…
Lowcountry Bulldawg
February 27th, 2012
3:29 pm
Agree with UGABugKiller entirely.
Ken Stallings
February 27th, 2012
3:40 pm
Almost unheard of for active players to speak out against HGH and steroids. Good for Chipper! The ultimate proof he’s never used is that his body is declining in the historical way most players see their production decline. It has been no sudden fall off the plateau, but a steady decline year over year.
The travesty of HGH and steroid use is that one does not know what the accepted production level for HoF induction would have been for players in the 1990’s decade. Instead of the uber-inflated offensive statistics (with a few pitchers doing great) perhaps we would have seen another decade where 30 home runs was an excellent power season. The doping in baseball made it where 30 homers was considered above average and it took a 40 or 50 homer season to make a mark for yourself. It took 60 plus homers to claim an historic season.
What this did was skew the playing field. Marginal players who were honest were sent down to the minors or outright released. Very good players were denied their recognition as excellent players. Excellent players were perhaps denied candidacy for the Hall of Fame. The players who did the drugs cheated their fellow players who did not.
kman
February 27th, 2012
3:41 pm
He cheats on his former wife, not at sports. Class Act…whatever!
CJJScout
February 27th, 2012
3:42 pm
Class act? I like the guy but I wouldn’t say that. Hooters girl and hating on the ATL saying he would have been a stockbroker if he had known what he was getting into… Sours it for me. First ballot HOFer, would be a shame if he wasn’t because he has earned it but he hasn’t always been squeaky clean.
Ken Stallings
February 27th, 2012
3:44 pm
BTW: The MLB Network’s Prime 9 for best nine third basemen in baseball history had two Braves on it: Chipper at number five, and Eddie Matthews at number two. That’s really an amazing feat for the Braves franchise to have two players on the list of the best third basemen in baseball history!
Ryan
February 27th, 2012
3:49 pm
Here is something that excites me. If he hits 16 HR, 125 hits this year and plays enough to vest 2013 and then does the same in ‘13, he would have a serious chance at 3000 hits and 500 HRs and may just force the Braves into a final, one year deal to chase history. The only thing that I have ever thought would stop this pursuit would be the idea of his average dropping under .300, which would probably happen with three more full seasons.
rrr
February 27th, 2012
3:51 pm
I am a Braves fan, but, it is silly to think that we didn’t have any users during the steriod era. Bret Boone, Caminiti, Gant, Julio Franco, Marcus Giles, and, yes, Chipper were all larger dudes during this time. Not to say that they were all guilty, but, it is naive to think that they were all innocent, either.
doc
February 27th, 2012
3:55 pm
folks the vote is rigged. one vote goes to the arbiter, one to major league baseball and one to the union. the vote essentially is correct and this time the process was guilty not the player and the arbitrator was acting in his role completely. i am all for the testing and as a doc knowing the detrimental effects of these things at pharmaceutical doses is profound. i also know that if there is any question to the propriety of the process it should be thrown out as well. mlb needs to once again get its act together and accept responsibility for its error and make it better. it is why these things are evaluated so there is no question in the future of mishandling in any way.
personally i am surprised that chipper can say it as he has looked roided up in the early 2000’s when it first came on the scene. maybe he had a natural efect by weights onl i remember some pretty impressive musculature right before he got his contract and when he had his big home run years in the 40’s. maybe it was only andro which was legal. it was also at a time when ther were other braves looking pretty stout including one second baseman.
Groundhogday
February 27th, 2012
3:58 pm
phil
February 27th, 2012
2:34 pm
I take him at his word. Play til you’re 50, Chipper.
Why wasn’t he asked which of his teammates did this stuff? He wouldn’t have said, of course, but WAS the question asked?
And Fire FG!!
____________________________________________________________________
I believe it’s completely fair to ask Chipper if HE has ever used PEDs; however, a journalist writng a blog asking him to drop a dime on somebody else is way out line. Only someone in an official investigative capacity would be justified in asking him to comment on other players.
Larry
February 27th, 2012
4:03 pm
Tim,
Would you have considered you father a “role model” had he knocked a Hooter’s chick and you had to share your inheritance with a step brother?
I’m not a perfect man either, but I save the “role model” badge for those who truly deserve it, just because I idolize a switch hitting 3rd baseman.
Hankie Aron
February 27th, 2012
4:05 pm
1eyedjack-is that why you only have 1 eye?
StaceyJ
February 27th, 2012
4:06 pm
That is why Chipper Jones is one of the best players in baseball.
No drugs, solid and hontest to everybody. That’s why you don’t hear any of the Braves in trouble with drug testing cause they are a team that is to be respected in that at all times. Cause Chipper and the rest of the Braves, past and present are honest and straighforward and if thier not like Steve Avery was then they are gone and all thier respect is gone forevers..
Chipper is future hall of famer and I think he is too be applauded for that…
don't trust any athlete anymore
February 27th, 2012
4:08 pm
I dunno….so he says he never has. What else is he gonna say? All these self-proclamations are worthless. He had me believing for a second everything printed here until he is quoted as saying about Ryan Braun “if he didn’t, he was rightly vindicated”. Ryan Braun got off on a technicality! Everybody knows that. That is far from vindicated.
And all this union defense and players lying is more disgusting when Chipper says players in general know who’s using and who isn’t. All the players should have confronted all the ones using, in private, and shamed them into stopping so as not to put a black mark on all the “clean” players.
It’s an entire era of baseball players that they’ve allowed themselves and their union to protect.
That lie and protection wound up biting them in the a$$. Remember, it’s the cover up that will get you.
doc
February 27th, 2012
4:08 pm
there is also the issue of mlb leaking the results before there was time to challenge the process. that was a huge no no and if in ant other area could be a law suit in the making. this is huge against testing as done in mlb. to think there was no way this could have been sent immediately? one can only wonder why it was not sent right away and what was the reasoning? in ryan’s case he said there were 5 ups stores within 5 miles of the tests still open immediately after the test was completed and one open until midnight in the area.
if anyone here had had this happen on their job and were to be held a pay check for two months plus the public backlash from the public or peers we would have howled greatly. it is also interesting that ryan retested negative with three days after requesting a retest as soon as he knew the results. the tester has to pass the sniff test 100% of the time and the integrity of the test has to be beyond question or it is rightly voided. shame on mlb for not acknowledging it themselves and voting the way they did rather than say they will do better on further review. it is one more reason for a union.
go play wargames with the animals on your 1000 acres
February 27th, 2012
4:12 pm
Bet he didn’t plan on having Hooters affairs either. Busted on that one too.
fuzzybee
February 27th, 2012
4:16 pm
When Chipper came up he was an athletic shortstop. Within a couple of years he became a home run hitter and started looking much more beefy. Then he started getting hurt a lot which is often a sign that the muscles are too strong for the connecting tissue.
Since we cannot know, I will give him the benefit of the doubt but it doesn’t pass the stink test to me.
screw unions
February 27th, 2012
4:20 pm
most people don’t make in a lifetime of hard work, what an average player makes in one (few year) contract. There are labor laws in place already to protect workers. Got a problem, go to court.
LawDawg
February 27th, 2012
4:20 pm
“For what it’s worth, he said some PED-users should be allowed in the Hall, the deciding factor being whether they would have had the credentials without drums.”
Assuming you meant drugs (not drums), I completely agree. You can disagree with what they did all you want, but Bonds, Clemens, A-Rod, etc., definitely deserve to be in the HOF, because they were the best players of an (admittedly-tainted) era. Sosa and McGwire, etc., or people whose batting average and other non-homer/RBI/slugging numbers are borderline as is.
Bonds and Clemens in particular were Hall of Fame-worthy before anyone can say they took steroids (1998 for Bonds, e.g., when he already had 3 MVPs).
Eddie
February 27th, 2012
4:21 pm
I am like UGABugKiller. I suspected him in 1999, and before the leaked list was destoyed there WAS conjecture. I am glad it never happened, never came to fruition.
LawDawg
February 27th, 2012
4:21 pm
end of second paragraph should say that Sosa, McGwire, and similar players DO NOT deserve to be in the HOF.
doc
February 27th, 2012
4:24 pm
screw, that is what they kind of did using an arbitrator without having to pay extra for more lawyers. legal system is flawed and mired down enough without having this come in also these things need quicker turn arounds than the years it takes courts to do it. it is in both the league’s and player’s benefit to get it done. just look at the trials of bonds, jones and clements to know how flawed it is.
Bama Mike
February 27th, 2012
4:25 pm
Agree with fuzzybee. 3 years 42 million and tell me again what did we get in return. Still looks fat.
fuzzybee
February 27th, 2012
4:26 pm
LawDawg — That is why many people dislike lawyers, there is no right or wrong, just what you can get away with.
premadonna, entitlement babies
February 27th, 2012
4:27 pm
They’re all a bunch of ho dogs…….you know it, I know it, the world knows it.
And ho dogs are by nature, liers (feeble attempts to protect their actions).
premadonna, entitlement babies
February 27th, 2012
4:29 pm
The bad thing is they start to believe their own lies…..
Skeezix
February 27th, 2012
4:35 pm
Never, for a second, have I thought Chipper cheated. He will go down as one of the all time best switch-hitters in the history of the game and, in terms of the Braves, he is one of my all time favorites.
Skeezix
February 27th, 2012
4:35 pm
Never, for a second, have I thought Chipper cheated. He will go down as one of the all time best switch-hitters in the history of the game and, in terms of the Braves, he is one of my all time favorites.
Bama Mike
February 27th, 2012
4:37 pm
I just noticed that the front/sides of Chippers belt tilts forward and down just like mine. Better be careful bending over going after those slow rollers could take the breath out of him. I know.
Douglas
February 27th, 2012
4:39 pm
Someone above said Julio Franco did not use roids …….. you have got to be kidding! I f he did not then no one has. What I cannot understand is how Albert Pujols has gotten away with his roid use? Just look at him. It’s obvious. I suspect it must be some kind of desinger roid that dosen’t show up in the tests.
As for Chipper and roids, if used his numbers would be much better and the fall off would not be like it has been
Jipper Chones
February 27th, 2012
4:39 pm
First off, who would believe Chipper just cuz he said something? He’s got the loosest lips on the team, and is always having trouble backing up his claims.
Second off, yeah, he cheated on his wife. Doesn’t make him evil, but it does put him squarely in the LIAR category.
Third off, it doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to read between the lines here. His dad would be disappointed to find out four or five years, or six years of his career he cheated? Why not one year? Why not one month? If that awkward part of Chipper’s story doesn’t jump out of you, your heads in the sand. Dude probably cheated a bit, but has rationalized that since he’s MOSTLY clean (”you’re friend here is only MOSTLY dead…”), he’s close enough to flap his trap about the cheaters.
This also matches perfectly his response to cheaters getting into the HOF … only if they would have anyway without the drugs … yeah, Chipper, I hear ya loud and clear.
Too many organized activities
February 27th, 2012
4:40 pm
Only organized sports should be at school.
Wouldn’t it be great to see kids playing ball again in neighborhoods with their neighbors and friends after school. Instead of parents shipping them off to soccer or traveling baseball team every day.
Sure, keep little leagues and some things, but my point is there is oversaturation of organized crap.
You can get away from the video games and still play without it being a county or state wide organized team.
Skeezix
February 27th, 2012
4:44 pm
Braun I am not so sure about. He seemed to be hitting the ball with more power than I had seen from him before and atypical of a guy his size. His numbers/power hitting just jumped to a much higher level all of a sudden. Why? And don’t tell me it was weight lifting, protein shakes and vitamins.
When I heard of a positive drug test I really was not surprised. If he has a huge drop off this year, I will be forever suspicious.
Jipper Chones
February 27th, 2012
4:45 pm
Igads, that was a grammatically sloppy post from me. Oh well, Schultz has us all taking drums.
Welcome to Hooters
February 27th, 2012
4:45 pm
Is there a new steroid spokesperson?
?
February 27th, 2012
4:46 pm
What’s a drum?
Joe Garagiola
February 27th, 2012
4:48 pm
Chipper should worry about what all that dip and chew has done to his mouth and jaw after all these years.
boy that cried wolf
February 27th, 2012
4:51 pm
Really, that wasn’t cause of steroids….
heartofdarkness
February 27th, 2012
5:06 pm
Is there a link to a story that adequately explains the Ryan Braun situation? Braun has been openly proclaiming he did not take a prohibited substance prior to his failed substance test. There have been cases of athletes testing positive due to the presence of indicators in the tested fluids which may have been produced by non-prohibited medicines, which may have resulted from unknowing introduction of prohibited substances into the body or by mistaken identity of the sample’s origin.
The results of the Braun case, as it is reported in the media, appear to uphold an inference that Braun took a prohibited substance, but due to a procedural matter involving the chain of custody of Braun’s sample, the evidence was invalidated leaving a hole in the factual presentation of Braun’s guilt. Therefore, the finding of a violation of baseball’s substance policy was vacated.
Procedure is an important part of the administration of justice, and procedurally defective prosecutions should not be allowed to stand. However, the truth of the facts underlying the violation are not necessarily affected by the improper procedure. As the story has been reported, I am left with the impression Braun was using, as no substantive rebuttal has been offered to the report of a violation.
If my recap of this matter is essentially correct, my impression may be an injustice to Braun, but not due to faulty logic. This is more of the murky environment in which big business has brought to baseball.
doc
February 27th, 2012
5:17 pm
heart you have declared him guilty without due process, so yes it is faulty logic as no one knows what happened or if it was even his sample. the testing has to be flawless and with complete integrity and sometimes when it hasnt been done that way injustices have occurred in all walks of life. until ryan fills up another cup that is juiced or turn into judy at the plate then i let it rest.
honestly, i think chipper was more guilty of using than ryan. of course at the time it could have been androstenedione which was legal but a user just the same. a far as mcguire, i thought he planted the andro so he could in the end say he took something legal. as it was he just went the fifth.
Agent009
February 27th, 2012
5:19 pm
Is there an editor in the house?
Stinger2
February 27th, 2012
5:19 pm
Hopefully Sonny Clusters will not see this blog. His recent comments about Chipper have been very negative.
Dave from Buford
February 27th, 2012
5:31 pm
Jones didn’t start having the injury problems until they (idiotically) asked him to go to the outfield for two years … he played 150 games in both those seasons but only 137 the following year and it was downhill after that, although his hitting for average recovered, he never again had the same production numbers.
Thanks, Schuerholz.
kevin chop
February 27th, 2012
5:34 pm
I would like to see chipper get 500 hrs before retirement
tdmorgan
February 27th, 2012
5:35 pm
It’s a shame that injuries have cut short many of Chipper’s seasons the last several years. He would just about be guaranteed to have had 3000 hits and 500 homeruns. He has always been one of my favorite players and will continue to be. The only thing people can fault him for is injuries, the production is always there.
Dave from Buford
February 27th, 2012
5:38 pm
oh … and if he gets 60 RBI this season he gets close (or passes) Ernie Banks and Tony Perez in career RBI … if he gets 21 dingers, he ties Willie Stargell and Stan Musial … if he gets 120 hits, he passes Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx, Billy Williams and Lou Gehrig.
Looking forward to it.
ohhhhYEAH
February 27th, 2012
5:40 pm
Jipper…
I think i speak for many when I say you may be reading TOO MUCH between the lines. I’m sure Larry Sr. would be equally as disappointed had it been one month. Thing is….who the heck is only gonan cheat for a month? That sentence alone pretty much shows that you’re reaching a little too far, don’t ya think? How many users do you think said, “You know…I think I’ll have a go at this steroid thing for a month or two, and if it doesn’t pan out….oh well.” Come on man, you’re better than that.
MJM
February 27th, 2012
5:42 pm
All those guys on performance enhancing drugs Bonds McGuire, Clements Etc should have all their records expunged and should be declared ineligible for the Hall
ohhhhYEAH
February 27th, 2012
5:47 pm
LawDawg
Hate to say, but you’re wrong. Just because Bonds and Clemens were good before anyone pointed fingers does not at all say that they weren’t using before then. I mean it doesnt take a genius to figure out how it took bonds 4 seasons to get his first 100 home runs, and then every two years after that he hit another century mark. Not to mention, Chippers body has gotten bigger with age, as does all players. Look at Miguel Cabrera his first few years up compared to now. Heck, look at jsut about anyone you want, including yourself. Your body fills out more with age, whether it be muscle from a work out regiment that all athletes are on, or fat due to not working out. But Bonds…..come on. Maguire, Sosa, same way. They went from toothpicks to monsters in about a season. And, ironically enough, their production went through the roof.
Long story short is this: anyone accused of cheating the game while playing shuold not be allowed in for the simple reason i said earlier. No one can tell how much production is coming from the drugs and how much is coming from the player. Absolutely, Bonds, Sosa, Maguire were all solid players before it seemed they were doping. But do you honestly think they ALL would have been hitting 60+ every year without them considering what they were early in their careers? Absolutely not.
AL
February 27th, 2012
6:00 pm
Jones understands why Major League Baseball is lived over the arbitration panel’s decision: ?? What? “Lived” over the decision?
"Chef" Tim Dix
February 27th, 2012
6:10 pm
For all those playing the Hooters card, not a role model, yada…
Chipper faced that music in public, up front with the media, straight ahead.
That was real life, not baseball and a situation that happens everyday to ham and eggers in the work a day world.
Funny how some people want to paint Chipper in a less than human light on this one with total disregard to the chin out, take your medicine, man that took guts way he addressed it.
Hillbilly D
February 27th, 2012
6:17 pm
Well, at least he’s not taking shots at Heyward.
DawgDad
February 27th, 2012
6:22 pm
I’m happy to hear Chipper say he is and has always been clean, and that PED use is down significantly. But I hope he understands the damage has been done, and how significant the damage is. People lie about this type of thing, and by virtue of him playing in this era he’s forever tainted with suspicion in the court of public opinion.
Integrity is hard to establish and maintain. As the Braun case points out, all parties involved (MLB, players, union, etc.) have a LONG way to go to restore PED-free integrity to the game, free of suspicion, and they can NEVER go back and correct their sordid history. The Braun case wasn’t exactly a model of player/management collaboration to clean up the sport, now was it?
Makes me wonder just who was that PED-enhanced stud pitcher on the Braves?
George Stein
February 27th, 2012
6:25 pm
Seriously, Hillbilly D.
Supes
February 27th, 2012
6:33 pm
I’ve never had any doubts about Chipper being drug free all those years…I think if he had used his HR numbers would be significantly higher now.
As far as Ryan Braun…the guy is a FRAUD. New name is Ryan FRAUD ( I got off on a technicality). Drug Test Experts all agree…there is NO WAY you get the test level he had (with a daym sealed sample) and also find SYNTHETIC Test (which the body doesn’t produce) in someone’s system unless they TOOK IT. Braun would have gotten major cred if he just WOULD admit the truth…now he’s not only a FRAUD MVP, a CHEATER and a LIAR.
Notice how he steered the controversy away from the SUBJECT matter at hand folks…he FAILED a drug test and never ARGUED that part of it!
Too bad the Brewers aren’t coming to the Ted this year, I was looking forward to being there to “greet” the FRAUD the way he should be greeted…
Delbert D.
February 27th, 2012
6:33 pm
I once considered drums. I gave up because I couldn’t do multiple paradiddles.
zgoldatl
February 27th, 2012
6:36 pm
Chipper is the man. Class act
Hillbilly D
February 27th, 2012
6:41 pm
My 2¢ on Ryan Braun is that I don’t think he’s a juicer. Of course, I know no more about what happened than any of the rest but the reports that I originally read at the time were that one sample was positive and the back up sample wasn’t. The sample that tested positive supposedly had levels high enough to be dangerous to his health. He’d already passed tests earlier in the year as well as many times. all the way back to the minors. It smells like some sort of anamoly to me. Reportedly he was being treated for a medical condition, as well. The burden of proof is on MLB, not Braun.
MLB needs to be looking into who leaked the info, since it’s supposed to be confidential until a player’s appeals are done. They’ve tainted Braun forever, whether he’s guilty or not. Even it’s eventually proved he’s totally clean, some folks will never believe it. The damage of the leak can never be undone.
When they get all that sorted out, maybe they can explain to us why Manny, a second offender, is having his suspension reduced from 100 games to 50.
Jay Dubu
February 27th, 2012
6:45 pm
1999 was contract year…a lot of players put up huge numbers in contract years.
What 5 players on the Braves used PEDs?
Longtime Brave Fan
February 27th, 2012
6:46 pm
Folks are painting Chipper like a saint, but people seem to have forgotten how in his younger days he did make some un-honorable “waitress” decisions in his personal life— we all have. No, Chipper does not have Tebow-like credentials. Manuvering to make my point…. I don’t know Chipper personally, but it’s not hard too hard to recognize just how influential his father and life-coach has been in his life. So you ask me, can I have 100 percent certainty that there wasn’t a possibility that Chipper looked into his father’s eyes and lied to him to prevent breaking he father’s heart?? If you make one bad moral choice in life, isn’t that enough to suggest you may potentially succumb to another? Even a liar will look you in the face and say I’m telling the truth. That should be fairly evident in baseball.
George Stein
February 27th, 2012
6:56 pm
Agreed again, Hillbilly D. He might be a cheater nut we will never know because MLB screwed up. Braun is entitled to the defenses the CBA provides and I won’t consider him a cheater unless he legally proven otherwise.
LL2
February 27th, 2012
6:57 pm
Professsional Cycling is light years ahead of the 4 big professional sports in America. Lets face the real facts. NFL and MLB are run by player unions and are scared if many high profile players are suspended for long periods it could affect tv ratings and MONEY from tv revenue.
JR
February 27th, 2012
7:00 pm
Jeff – do us a favor and read this post aloud to yourself, then edit it like it should have been before publishing.
braves95
February 27th, 2012
7:03 pm
its spelled ‘livid’, not ‘lived’. not an oprah film…
Let's Go
February 27th, 2012
7:06 pm
There was a time when I thought Chipper probably did something but as the years have gone on I’ve come to believe he may be clean. Steroids are one thing but the HGH is what I would have thought Chipper would have dabbled in considering all the injuries he’s had but looking back over his career from 96 to 07 his numbers were pretty consistant. Yeah he had his MVP year in 99 but looking back now 45 HR’s & 110 RBI’s was not that big of deal for that time period.
Jared
February 27th, 2012
7:08 pm
Great read. You misspelled ‘livid.’
corvette11
February 27th, 2012
7:14 pm
Chipper stays on the DL too much to have taken help pills.
Jeff Schultz
February 27th, 2012
7:14 pm
Just now checking in. Thanks all for the comments so far.
corvette11
February 27th, 2012
7:17 pm
Thanks Jeff,
Appreciate some fresh meat to gnaw on
Jeff Schultz
February 27th, 2012
7:27 pm
Rothchild — “Drugs.” Typo was fixed.
Jeff Schultz
February 27th, 2012
7:29 pm
1eyedJack: “Take it from someone who had to take steroids “legally” for 9 years. If your life don’t depend on them don’t do them. I’m still dealing with the side effects 15 years later.”
<< Wow. Sorry to hear that.
ragnar danneskjold
February 27th, 2012
7:29 pm
Funny, as I read the article, the only names rolling through my mind were John Rocker and Andruw Jones, the former for the Clemens-like behavior, and the latter for the Bonds-like muscle development in his early 20s.
Jeff Schultz
February 27th, 2012
7:33 pm
I have so many wonderful editors out there. You folks are so kind and giving. (Those typos were fixed, FYI. But not sure editors in office have read yet.)
Long Pole Man
February 27th, 2012
7:47 pm
Did Marcus Giles use roids ?
Brava
February 27th, 2012
7:51 pm
Wow, doc, you’re a real piece of work. You believe Ryan Braun, who failed a drug test, is innocent, but you believe Chipper, who has never failed a drug test used PEDs. Surely, you don’t consider yourself a Braves fan.
Roidgate
February 27th, 2012
7:51 pm
I’m bettin’ Javy Lopez juiced…
Younger Than That Now
February 27th, 2012
7:55 pm
I believe Chipper and I believe in Chipper. McGwire, Clemons, Sosa, etc., I do not believe and never will even if they somehow have a real change of heart and actually “fess up”. At this point, short of a God thing happening in their lives, I don’t expect that to happen but I could be wrong. I’ve met Chipper’s dad and I can see him really not wanting to disappoint him… hell, I spoke with him for fifteen minutes and I wouldn’t want to disappoint him either. It would disappoint me terribly to find out that Chipper used and then lied about his using. Even in his past discretions of many years ago, I don’t recall him lying about any of it.
I think that any spike in Chipper’s performance and numbers came about from hard work, and let’s face it, there’s some luck involved in having an MVP season as well as there is from having a true championship season. It takes a little of it all to make it all come together and happen as it should.
Here’s hoping for a great season for a great, MVP and first ballot HOF’er… and a championship season for our Braves!
GO BRAVES!
Roidgate
February 27th, 2012
7:58 pm
Let’s see, Bud Selig is Commissioner and former Brewers owner. Ryan Braun (Brewers OF) gets off on a technicality. Enforce the 50 game ban MLB. I work in a lab and his specimen is either positive or not. Time doesn’t matter (few days).
JKP
February 27th, 2012
7:59 pm
@fuzzybee Chipper has always been a power hitter. His first 3 years in the league he hit 23, 30, and 21 home runs. In fact, if we’re talking smell test, his numbers smell exactly like a player who progressed, peaked, and aged quite naturally. His peak home run production occured between ages 27 and 32, after which his production has declined steadily to the level he is at today.
This is not in any way proof that he never took PED’s. But, on the face of it, there is no reason to think that he has had anything other than a natural career un-enhanced by drugs.
Younger Than That Now
February 27th, 2012
8:03 pm
And also… I’ve had to legally take steroids for what ended up being a month and a half. I came off of them and told my doctor that I would just have to suffer with my ailment, but I refused to take them any longer. That was eight years ago and I’m still here, but I do suffer from my ailment from time to time… but I’ll gladly continue down that path rather than take another steroid. How these guys take them at such high dosages… and voluntarily at that… I’ll never know!
BTW… thanks Schultzie for a fine article… and I can read around and thru the typos, as these others apparantly can as well. If they couldn’t they wouldn’t be complaining about them!
Thanks again and enjoy your time in Lake Buena Vista… I’ll be joining you guys in a couple of weeks!
slick
February 27th, 2012
8:05 pm
i agree lawdawg, bonds was a hof, long before peds
Hillbilly D
February 27th, 2012
8:08 pm
Lab errors do happen. I’ve been through one (and mine was for a medical condition, nothing to do with substances). Fortunately, in my case, a more experienced person in the lab caught wind of it and said, “This can’t be right”.
bulldogbubba
February 27th, 2012
8:15 pm
Wheres Clusters?
Furman Bitcher
February 27th, 2012
8:15 pm
Only 20% used steriods at its peak. Are you freakin kidding me. I have heard numbers like 60-70% from insiders.
DetroitBraves
February 27th, 2012
8:18 pm
There have always been anomalous seasons. Chipper’s 1999 season wasn’t even all that anomalous, rather just the best of a Hall of Famer’s great career. In fact, at the risk of Jeff telling me how much doesn’t like statistics again, he posted a 7.7 WAR that year but he has been at 7.5, and 7.4 twice in other seasons. At any rate, long-winded way of saying I believe him. I don’t know, of course, but I believe him. But at any rate, the real question is – where is Sonny Clusters? An article about Chipper, 3 pages of comments in and no Clusters? I’m starting to worry about him.
Herman Cocain
February 27th, 2012
8:21 pm
I think Chipper did use steroids. Only he & his daddy know the truth, & they will carry that to their graves. He never shouldve been given this latest contract. I hope his overpaid overrated ass retires after this season FINALLY. HE is the main reason why the Braves have had difficulty with bolstering the lineup. If he really wanted to win another ring he would’ve taken a reduced salary instead of handcuffing the Braves for these last 4 years!!!
Hillbilly D
February 27th, 2012
8:23 pm
I agree about anomalous seasons. If you look at most any player who has a long career, he’ll have usually have a year that stands out above the rest and he’ll usually have one that stands below the rest. There is a such thing as having “a career year”. Lots of times a playoff team will have 2 or 3 guys who are having career years.
Anyway, for the record, I don’t know anymore about who used and who didn’t than anybody else but I’ll take Chipper’s word on this one. I’m not a fan of his, even though he’s been a great ballplayer, but I haven’t seen any real evidence that he’s not telling the truth, on this one.
DetroitBraves
February 27th, 2012
8:29 pm
You know, if Chipper had stayed healthy (which isn’t really fair because you could play what if with a million players) he would probably already have 500 homers. As is, not very likely he makes that milestone. Might have gotten to 3000 hits too. I mean, Hall of Famer either way but those are some nice round numbers. As for the salary, there were some years where he was probably vastly underpaid by MLB standards for what he did. I don’t know, I just don’t blame players much for contracts even when they turn bad. Some times it’s just bad luck and sometimes the club should have known better. It neither case is it really the player’s fault. The club always had a choice.
South Georgia
February 27th, 2012
8:31 pm
Baseball is still complicit with Ryan Braun walking free by their kid glove approach. I will be watching less baseball as protest of pitiful handling of steroid use.
Will
February 27th, 2012
8:31 pm
Thanks Jeff — a truly uplifting piece, about this generation’s Pride of the Braves. We are lucky to get to watch this future Hall of Famer still performing at a high level.
Supes
February 27th, 2012
8:33 pm
Folks…both sample A and sample B for Ryan “FRAUD” Braun tested POSITIVE. The sample was SEALED same as it was when it was taken. Believe what you want…but somewhere Matt Kemp wants his freaking MVP trophy.
Supes
February 27th, 2012
8:34 pm
In order for one to talk about this, you really should check out the ESPN Outside the Lines with Bob Lee, they had experts in the field of drug testing explaining all this stuff.
Jeff Schultz
February 27th, 2012
8:44 pm
Younger Than That Now — Thanks.
Dumbo
February 27th, 2012
8:44 pm
Even though I feel that Jones should have hung it up 2 seasons ago…I respect that he never felt the need to stick a needle into his butt. Like him, I too have only had 1 role model, like him, it too was my father. He has had plenty of mentors that have helped show him right way to do things, but he’s lucky to have had a father that taught him that honor cannot be compromised.
That said, please let this be his last year!
Jeff Schultz
February 27th, 2012
8:46 pm
Furman Bitcher — “Only 20% used steriods at its peak. Are you freakin kidding me. I have heard numbers like 60-70% from insiders.”
<< I don’t think so. I think what skews perceptions is that so many records are set or threatened by steroid/HGH/PED users in all sports that we tend to believe it’s everybody, when in fact it’s mostly the ones who are raising the bar. I actually had a doctor/steroid expert tell me that.
Longtime Brave Fan
February 27th, 2012
8:47 pm
Love is blind.. and we’ve been duped by many of our favorite players for a long time. I’ve stopped giving baseball players the benefit of the doubt, and choose to wait for the next book to come out that outs the next hometown hero. In baseball, words don’t mean a thing anymore. In life, we’ve all come across the crooks who’ve befriended and shaken our hand with one hand, and stole our wallets with the other hand. In baseball we’ve seen them all file in, place their hand on the bible and lie. Don’t automatically defend them because of what you think you know about them statistically or performance wise. If you do, you’re doing so blindly.
Jeff Schultz
February 27th, 2012
8:47 pm
Thanks Will.
BIOMASS
February 27th, 2012
8:53 pm
1999. Until he takes a polygraph about 1999, I will never believe he didn’t go on the juice.
Jeff
February 27th, 2012
8:57 pm
Remember Furcal-the sudden monster muscles and acne. Makes you wonder………..
Pete
February 27th, 2012
9:00 pm
Nice article overall. For those of you that allege Chipper Jones to have used some sort of performance enhancing drug, I ask you to point to one shred of evidence from which you base your allegations. Simply because Chipper Jones participated on extra-marital activities in no way implicates in honesty when he talks about staying clean under the MLB drug testing policies and procedures. Even in a court of law, a jury would be prevented from making such an inference.
In this country, despite what some of you wish to believe, or your own skepticism, we are innocent till proven guilty. Some of you suggest that such a presumption does not apply to a “court” of public opinion or the MLB drug violation appellate process (i.e., Ryan Braun’s current issue), and perhaps you are correct. But we are not in the MLB drug violation appellate process, and what type of public “opinion” can you offer without any reasonable evidence of any kind to prove your point? Granted, you are entitled to any opinion you like, but facts and evidence of some type go much farther in the “court” of public opinion than your own personal, baseless allegations, assumptions and conspiracy theories.
Chipper Jones has been a model baseball player from start to finish. He is future Hall of Fame inductee and will be remembered as such a player. Should evidence to the contrary arise–that he did in fact use PEDs–then I retract everything I said about him just two sentences earlier. Nevertheless, should any such evidence ever arise, this does not make those that doubted his integrity anymore correct on the matter. You (by “you” I mean those individuals who claim that Chipper Jones used such substances) are not anymore correct because you offered no insight or evidence of any type that suggested you were correct from the start. Your argument is essentially the equivalent of predicting an already-known-to-occur event. For example, one is not a fortune teller just by stating that “one day, some where, at some time, the Earth will cease to exist,” and in fact the Earth does die and disappear. If that were case, under that logic, you could walk up to any individual on the street and tell that person he or she will die someday, having no evidence of how or why you came to that conclusion. The same applies to Chipper Jones. All you have is speculation, conjecture and the ability to express yourself loudly.
I hope that Chipper Jones did not use PEDs, and I have never believed him to use them.. But should he found to be in the wrong, I will no longer appreciate his career for what it was and has been up until this point.
Hooters Man
February 27th, 2012
9:00 pm
Really? From the same Saint Chipper who cheated on his first wife with a Hooters waitress he got pregnant?
Lee in S GA
February 27th, 2012
9:04 pm
Jeff Schultz you think there is any chance Chipper moves out of batting 3rd in the lineup this season. Seems to me batting 2nd may be best for him at this stage of his career.
Jerry Sanduskey
February 27th, 2012
9:05 pm
Chipper is an awesome role model, just ask the kid he has from the Hooters waitress he knocked up!
BIOMASS
February 27th, 2012
9:19 pm
Not to bash Chipper too much, but I always hear about his son Shea. Never about his love child. Poor kid.
Marcus Giles
February 27th, 2012
9:28 pm
Juicing is great!!! That needle made me alot of money…
boots
February 27th, 2012
9:35 pm
It would be nice for the Brewers to sit Braun for a month, but they won’t. Chipper earned the right to be trusted, and his numbers would have been much higher if he had. I’m glad he kept clean, and he is someone who is worthy of the Hall. Well done, Chipper.
Jeff Schultz
February 27th, 2012
9:46 pm
Lee in S Ga — Yes, it’s possible. He was moved out of third last season.
Longtime Brave Fan
February 27th, 2012
9:56 pm
Dude.. i’m not saying he did it, I’m also not taking up arms to defend he didn’t do it. Since dishonesty has already been proven in his most intimate of relationships, or in his family matters, how can you say with any certainty it hasn’t ever carried over professionally to any extent. I’m not proclaiming him guilty, just more skeptical now to climb into the innocent bandwagon. I too will be be extremely disappointed to find out he did cheat. But taking a more skeptical position, allows me to lose a little less. Oh! btw.. I’m still targeting to pick him as a Corner Infielder in my fantasy baseball draft, but will definitely need a surplus in that position since he’ll end up probably skip 1 to 2 games per week. Go Braves! .. and I’m not sold on Fredi yet.. the only thing he’s proven is he cant motivate a the team out of a Sept skid!!
Trapper John
February 27th, 2012
9:57 pm
Who knows? My take is the obvious users are now all out of baseball. Chipper is still chugging along as best he can. If he it did in the “day”, he certainly doesn’t now. Most people learn as they live and grow older. He’s a great baseball player. Hall Of Famer.Personal attacks on character are ridiculous. No one from the 1920’s on would be in the HOF if personal character had anything to do with playing baseball. See ‘ya later Babe Ruth. Ty Cobb. Shoeless Joe. Countless others! I still think Hank Aaron is the most dignified man to ever play the game!! Always out of the news as he likes being a private man. Went through absolute hell and never had an unkind word to say to any body. Married to his beautiful wife as the vows state “till death do us part”. Rare soul, The Hammer.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
February 27th, 2012
10:02 pm
Good read JS. I respect Chipper more for being a lifetime Brave, someone who stayed loyal to his team rather than taking a higher paycheck. Chipper & Jeter are rare athletes that I admire- those days are dying fast with free agency and stubborn agents.
Sonny Clusters
February 27th, 2012
10:02 pm
We was out at dinner and almost missed this blog but we read it with interest and was pleased to learn from the horse’s mouth that Chipper was not juicing when it appears he was aware of others in the clubhouse who were. We have a couple questions as we always do when Chipper offers his wisdom . . . Braun was vindicated? C’mon Chhipper. And how many currently juice? “Less than one per cent.” We would bet you that Chipper cannot tell us what number less than one per cent is if you spot him a Cray and the best Texas Instruments calculators.
Sonny Clusters
February 27th, 2012
10:16 pm
Let’s say you are a deer and somebody asks you, “Have you been eating the corn out of Jeff’s garden?” and you (the deer) look up and say something like, “No, we would never do that because of the stigma attached to such behavior and we know some little deer that did eat Jeff’s corn and we know some deer we think might have had some of that corn but as for us, we wouldn’t want people to think we ate Jeff’s corn.” Then as a follow up somebody asks, “How many deer do you think was eating corn at the present time and you confidently say, “less than one per cent.” That would presume you knew how many deer there was and how many of them was eating and how many was not eating and you could do that without consulting with the little deer or testing and verifying and keeping custody and all you really wanted to do was be a deer. That’s how we feel about it.
Trey
February 27th, 2012
10:16 pm
Jeff, great article. It will be a sad day when Chipper decides to retire. He, Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz had such great careers and once the last one out of them is finally retired, will be a sad day in baseball.
Nativebird
February 27th, 2012
10:22 pm
What is clear is this holier than though finger pointer had a neck and upper body the size of his Texas ranch in 1999 when he won the MVP. I guess the fact we’ve never seen performance like that from him since the juicing hit the front pages Is pure freakin coincidence. Yeah right. He’s aweful lucky. I’d keep my mouth shut if I were him. Karma can bite hard.
bulldogbubba
February 27th, 2012
10:41 pm
Clusters – Did Stinky Wintes “enhance” when ya’ll were at the “orange jungle” making all those championships?Panthers never lie.
MGibby
February 27th, 2012
11:02 pm
First off, I’m a Braves fan BUT…..
O’le Larry definitely juiced for a couple of years. Dude used to be thick!
Also, it would be rediculous to not allow supposed juicers in to the HOF considering it was an era of users and the supposed users brought attention back on baseball. The dumpster players were average before juice and above average w/ juice, so they were never gonna be in consideration anyway. But the great players were great before and after juice!
Ckgator
February 27th, 2012
11:04 pm
Great article Jeff! Guys like Chipper and organizations such as the Braves renew my faith in the modern game. Thanks for writing this!
Chipper's the Man
February 27th, 2012
11:14 pm
I cringe sometimes about what Chipper says but, you gotta hand it him. He always speaks his mind whether he’s right or wrong. I think he’s right in this case. I hope he retires this year and doesn’t become another Brett Favre.
KDL
February 27th, 2012
11:19 pm
You know that the list of players that MLB had info on hasn’t been released….just some players names leaked…..I’ve always expected CJ to be on that list. The way he bulked up and later started getting nagging injuries. I would not be surprised if the list ever comes out, his name is front and center. He’s just not the superstar that ARod is.
IceColdATLien
February 27th, 2012
11:38 pm
If Chipper getting mad about stuff in the sports world is your kinda thing, check out this new blog :
http://sportsvents.blogspot.com/
bake
February 27th, 2012
11:41 pm
selig is a moron. he should be shot on spot because if there ever was a conflict of interest he’s it. rose doesn’t belong in the hall of fame. period. he can get in when he’s dead but he screwed the game so bad he probably doesn’t deserve the joys of going in and giving a speech. and i’ll be happy when chipper retires…only because once he does i know it will be 5 years until he heads to cooperstown.
Greg in New York
February 27th, 2012
11:43 pm
Considering the power numbers that guys like Brady Anderson (50 HR in 1996) and Luis Gonzalez (57 HR & 142 RBI with 24 intentional walks in 2001) put up I can only imagine what Chipper’s numbers would’ve looked like if he’d been a PED user in his prime.
I’ll always appreciate that he was willing to take substantially less money than what he could’ve gotten on the open market to stay with the Braves throughout his career.
And I especially appreciate the fact that a third baseman of his stature willingly moved to left field in the prime of his career (likely to the detriment of his legs ever since) to try to help his team improve its offense.
Understand that Derek Jeter wouldn’t even move to third base when the Yankees traded for a superior defensive shortstop in Alex Rodriguez (speaking of PED users) in 2004.
Chipper’s going to be 40 years old in April and he’s still the last hitter on this team that opposing pitchers and managers want to see at the plate with the game on the line.
If you’re looking for reasons why the Braves don’t win more often than they do I’d suggest that’s a pretty good place to start.
bake
February 27th, 2012
11:43 pm
pete…you take the blog way too serious. did you bet on the reds?
GeorgiaBorn
February 27th, 2012
11:50 pm
No, he didn’t cheat in baseball. He just cheated on his wife.
GA DAWG
February 28th, 2012
12:50 am
Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, ARod, none of them should EVER dart the doors of the HOF. THey can say what they want, they were cheaters.
THanks Chipper for staying clean. You could have probably hit 600 HR’s if you had, but you will go into the HOF doing it right.
AP Fan
February 28th, 2012
2:20 am
Enter your comments here
Braun cheated
February 28th, 2012
2:24 am
Braun is essentially claiming that while his sample was in limbo between the lab and FedEx, someone tainted his sample with testosterone or did the switcheroo and switched his sample with a testosterone laden sample – really, Ryan….seriously
pro
February 28th, 2012
4:23 am
bob horner was better
Lee in S GA
February 28th, 2012
4:59 am
Not saying is is moral or anything but if eveyr man or women that cheated on their spouse was judged the way some of you are being on Chipper may the force be with them. Of course I know some on here have never or would never do anything like that especially with a “hot” Hooter’s girl….just saying.
Dude
February 28th, 2012
6:28 am
No Cheaters should be allowed in the Hall period. Maybe rhe Hall of Shame.
Ian Mackaye
February 28th, 2012
8:07 am
Dale Murphy’s Foundation:
http://www.iwontcheat.com/
padre
February 28th, 2012
8:07 am
great word from chipper — class act guy. good example of hard word an d endurance. hof in life as well
Shug
February 28th, 2012
8:14 am
So ole Chipper says he didn’t take ‘roids. Ummm. I went back and checked some photos from about 10 years ago–protruding forehead, large jawline, disproportionate muscles. I suppose we can all draw our own conclusions.
BartBuzz
February 28th, 2012
8:14 am
Chipper has come a long way since the personal problems he had early in his career. He has always put the team first. It’s good to know he never cheated to pad his stats. The Braves will have a hard time finding another player with Chipper’s longevity and productivity.
Billy the Beaner
February 28th, 2012
8:17 am
I’m not a Braves Fan, but I do respect Larry and the way he plays the game. But, even if he did partake in PED’s in his career, do you seriously believe that he would “come out” in an article?? Seriously?!
OneNationUnderDawg
February 28th, 2012
8:29 am
I hate the steroids era, not only because it made me doubt some of my favorite Braves players (like Chipper) and their numbers and durability, but because it made me doubt Cal Ripken’s durability and his streak. If I ever found out Cal took PED’s to keep his streak alive, then baseball would be dead to me. Any other player?…I could get over it. For some reason, I just really liked Cal.
Truff Hurts
February 28th, 2012
8:32 am
I think 60% of players in the late 90’s thru 2008 used steroids or at least creatine. Bud Selig is a disgrace to MLB for not putting a stop to it before now.
Truff Hurts
February 28th, 2012
8:33 am
Roger Clemens was the worst case. He had his wife,trainer,and best friend Pettitte saying they all SAW him using them yet he still denies it today. Denial is a Mfgr….
mike
February 28th, 2012
8:34 am
It is great Chipper is a such a stand up guy. Now the real question is when are the braves going to win the world series. Year after year they come up short. Is this going to be another loser year? But Atlanta can be proud that there will always be one drug free player. Although he will be home watching the world series like the rest of the Atlanta fans.
Matt
February 28th, 2012
8:37 am
WOuld anyone be surprised if he did?? He’s never had power season like his MVP season. And he played 153 games or more 8 seasons in a row. Starting in 2004 his stats and games played drops dramatically and continues to decline. Just saying.
Truff Hurts
February 28th, 2012
8:37 am
I’m just wondering why Bonds & Clemens aren’t sitting in jail right now ? Both were convicted of purgery. The U.S. laws bend for the rich & famous. Remember when that hookeer said she & Charlie Sheen were doing cocaine & meth all night ? Why didn’t the cops do a search of his house for drugs immediately ?
Truff Hurts
February 28th, 2012
8:38 am
Also players that used steroids tend to be more injury-prone….
Matt
February 28th, 2012
8:41 am
Law Dawg- so Clemens and Barry should be in because they were HOF before they took steroids?? Pete Rose is not in the Hall as a player because of something he did as a manager!!! How do you tell what years were natural and what years were on the PEDs?? I’m sorry for all of them but they cheated the game. Letting them in relieves them of responsibilty. They achieve their goal: Pad stats to get into Hall.
mike
February 28th, 2012
8:54 am
I don’t like or dislike Jones. All I know about him is he is a baseball player and an adulterer. Neither of those qualities elevates him to hero status for me.
mike
February 28th, 2012
8:57 am
To the other “mike” at 8:34. “Atlanta can be proud that there will always be one drug free player”. You have a low threshold for proudness.
doc
February 28th, 2012
9:02 am
folks dont overlook clemens career was on a downward spiral until he took the juice, he wasnt a shooin leaving boston. i said for a long time he was probably guilty but folks were more focused on hitters than pitchers. so many of those flame throwers that blew elbows were on the stuff. remember how there were a couple of 100 milers on every team? that has certainly changed since the new standards have come forth. it also took the players a long time to allow it to happen because of the threat of impropriety in the process and why the braun case is so significant and why mlb better improve its standards for testing or they might make it look like a sham. especially, after taking so long to recognize or admit to the problem as the turnstiles churned and they made beaucoups of money as they let cheaters have their way. it took a senate hearing for the mlb to finally take on the problem and move forward.
the steroid issue in baseball is similar in dimension and importance as the concussion issue is in the nfl as this is filtering down to the high school level and lower to make it safer for all or at least allow folks the oportunity to ponder how these will effect the quality of lives and longevity in the future. the nfl has been hugely negligent and it took the story of john mackey to finally wake a few slumbering folks up. long term use in prescribed doses of roids is deleterious, as someone mentioned earlier much less in the pharmaceutical doses that were taken to blow up bodies, look at clemens and bonds heads to see it, the effect on brains due to the battering in football is more devastating in that we cant see the injuries under the best that science has to offer until the damage is done. only neuro-psych tests can begin to reveal the impact of the injury and they are not widely used or prescribed.
yes shug i have had the same thoughts in reviewing old pics myself. it wasnt as though the braves clubhouse was clean during that time either. shoot roids were available in the late 60’s while i played baseball and i knew of a local college coach who was pushing them to players because one of them asked me if i wanted to do it with him. they were not designer drugs and had huge devastating effects when abused so there was less of it until the pharm industry got involved.
Statick
February 28th, 2012
9:03 am
And here we have people always getting on Chipper for his multitude of yearly injuries. After reading this, I think you sadsacks should just shut up now.
Taylor Wooten
February 28th, 2012
9:07 am
Don’t most, if not all, deny they ever did/do it.
You can count on one hand the number who have admitted to doing it.
Its out there, despite what they say.
pro
February 28th, 2012
9:11 am
dumb move by chip to even comment. someone in his past knows the truth and could spill the beans out of spite.
Keep It Real Bro
February 28th, 2012
9:13 am
Chipper was juiced up also, check his stats from 1999
Questioning...
February 28th, 2012
9:21 am
I’m sorry…I love Chipper but I don’t trust any of those guys. Too many players have disappointed us all by their poor character and terrible choices. I think Ryan Braun is guilty too.
Sonny Clusters
February 28th, 2012
9:30 am
His Daddy had to ask him? We would think that would raise some eyebrows and some chin whiskers. If his Daddy asked him there must have been some doubt, right? “Son, did you slip out of the house last night? Son, did you get into my beer? Son, did you juice up when you were hulked up a few seasons back?” We was thinking we hope Chipper didn’t use performance enhancers but if he did we would understand how it could lead to bad toe muscles and thumb attachers and obliques that stretch too much and flu-like symptoms common in the sport of baseball. Say it ain’t so, Chipper. Well, we guess he just did. If he was to name some of that group that cast the aura of juicing we wonder if any of them would name him back?
Sonny Clusters
February 28th, 2012
9:36 am
Let’s say you’re a deer and every year you compete in the deer hunting don’t-get-shot by a Buck Commander olympics. You and every other little deer are out there facing some of the best baseball player/deer hunter/Buck Commanders in a battle of life and death . . . and they have high powered weapons and you don’t. All you have is a quicker mind. How would you feel about knowing that the deer hunter has bulked up and quickened his trigger finger by using peds? Well, that’s how we feel, too.
wardenerd
February 28th, 2012
9:39 am
If Ryan Braun does not hasve another career year like last year this year he will have a lot of splainin’ to do. He cheated he got caught and like Oliver North had his conviction overturned on a technicality. The same guys who get upset when someone goes free on a technicality support these two cheaters and I ask…WHY?
Spring Training Links – 2/28/2012 - Goodsportsart Blog = Baseball news and commentary
February 28th, 2012
9:50 am
[...] Chipper takes shots at drug cheaters (though he considered it) [...]
pat
February 28th, 2012
10:11 am
I think now would be a good time for Chipper to invest in some PED’s. Yea, he did it right! Now do it wrong and put up some numbers.
Jeff
February 28th, 2012
10:20 am
How many world series has this clown won?
Therut
February 28th, 2012
10:43 am
Hitting coach? Fire FG and let him manage! Start D. Lowe in such a pivital game. OMG
TB
February 28th, 2012
10:58 am
Pete Rose always bet on his team to win–he didn’t tank games! Besides, the HOF should consider him as a player, not what he did as a manager.
Senor Smoke
February 28th, 2012
10:58 am
One of the saddest outcomes of the Roids Era is that any guy who works hard on his physique and makes changes with his body is now suspect in the eyes of a lot people.
A man in his 20s/30s who eats right and trains hard as part of his profession can and will make changes to his physique, without the steroids.
Now, that said, I’ve never seen a guy train hard and increase their hat and shoe sizes..
ventersismean
February 28th, 2012
11:08 am
Jeff
February 28th, 2012
10:20 am
How many world series has this clown won?
‘
uhh one more than you
heartofdarkness
February 28th, 2012
11:22 am
Supes, thanks for the Bob Ley reference. That presents a good discussion of the underlying fact situation leading to baseball’s initial decision to suspend Braun. If the chain of custody of Braun’s sample was not as required under the CBA, the suspension had to be lifted. Professional athletes have looked for substances and methods to deal with fatigue and pain since athletes have been paid to play. You can call it common sense until your sport bans it or you become convinced the risks are too great. The street lawyers going after Chipper on this blog don’t appear to have a leg to stand on, Opinion and prejudice don’t amount to evidence.
Dorothy Davis
February 28th, 2012
11:49 am
It’s not that the steroid users deserve the death sentence, they just do not belong in the Hall of Fame along with the greats that did it on hard work without cheating. Do you get that?
Roid-Free
February 28th, 2012
12:15 pm
I guess most athletes feel it is better to POP SOME OXYCODONE than it is to do any roid or performance enhancer now that the Real Drug Problem(Pain Killers) is swept under the rug and Roid abuse is out in the open!
P Rose
February 28th, 2012
12:18 pm
. . . and they have high powered weapons and you don’t. All you have is a quicker mind.
Sonny, that is just classic!
Chipper da Man
February 28th, 2012
12:19 pm
Chipper never needed any Steroids since his body was fueled on Beer!…………..Just Kidding……Go Kick some azz Chipper………Brave’s fans are counting on U!
Sid
February 28th, 2012
12:21 pm
Great to see the pics of Crimedog and Justice at Braves camp.
Hillbilly D
February 28th, 2012
12:38 pm
Pete Rose always bet on his team to win–he didn’t tank games!
But he didn’t bet on every game. Couldn’t the days he didn’t bet be interpreted as he didn’t think his team’s chances were good that day? That could be interpreted as a bet against his own team. Besides, the sign in the clubhouse says, no gambling; it doesn’t say anything about which team you’re betting on.
Robert
February 28th, 2012
12:38 pm
I know the Braves nation wants to believe Chipper. I want to believe Chipper as well.
But tell me this – other than the fact that he plays for OUR favorite team, how is Chipper’s verbal assurance that he never did anything any kind of guarantee?
What bothers me is two things – (well, actually three)
1. He thinks 20 percent of guys were juiced at the heighth of the craze – that seems WAY low
2. Saying that Braun’s word is all he needs, in the face of a grossly abnormal test – is understandable but not reassuring
3. Anyone who thinks this guy is a role model just because he might not have done PED’s is out there – Chipper Jones is a selfish hypocritical person who puts himself and his wants ahead everything, including his team, his teammates, and his spouse
Robert
February 28th, 2012
12:41 pm
By the way – Sonny Clusters makes a great point – It’s actually quite disconcerting that his father had to ask him. Makes you think that his dad had his suspicions.
Now, what is Chipper going to tell dad?
The same thing Ryan Braun is telling us. The same thing Rafael Palmeiro told those Congressmen
I wonder if Chipper wagged his finger at his father.
Hillbilly D
February 28th, 2012
12:41 pm
and they have high powered weapons and you don’t. All you have is a quicker mind.
Deer also have keener eyesight and a vastly superior sense of smell. There’s a reason old bucks get to be old bucks.
DetroitBraves
February 28th, 2012
12:44 pm
The other problem with Rose betting on his team to win is you don’t want a manager thinking he has to do everything possible to win that one game out of 162. I mean, do you want to win every game? Sure. But if it is so critical, as a wager might have it appear, you may play injured players, or extend starting pitcher beyond reasonable limits, or bring in your ace reliever for a 5th straight day in an effort to win the game – tomorrow be damned.
Bama Mike
February 28th, 2012
12:52 pm
Dumbassery = Chipper aka Zipper Jones. Just dont say a word Chipper.
Bama Mike
February 28th, 2012
12:56 pm
Has Chipper ever had a defining moment or comment other than ” It hurts and I cant play today “
Andrew
February 28th, 2012
12:58 pm
You write one article per month and can’t even manage to spell on a H.S. level…good job. Chipper is King!!!
DawgDad
February 28th, 2012
1:13 pm
When I saw Chipper play left field I knew whatever he was taking was NOT a PED!
Shoz
February 28th, 2012
1:17 pm
Am I the only one here who doesn’t believe this for a second? Chipper says he didn’t juice, so we all just believe him? Go back and look at pictures of him from his MVP year in ‘99. No WAY he wasn’t juiced. Dude was HUGE. Do you all think it’s just a coincidence that he couldn’t stay healthy after the crack-down on PEDs in the early 2000’s? There were quite a few players who rarely if ever missed playing time, Chipper included. And then the very year MLB starts publicly cracking down on PEDs, these same players suddenly can’t seem to stay off the disabled list.
Look, I love Chipper, and to be completely honest, I don’t care if he juiced or not. But you’ll never convince me he wasn’t taking PEDs for at least a few years there in the late 90’s and early 2000’s…
JSS
February 28th, 2012
1:19 pm
Bama Mike and Larry making sense in all in one blog… Did someone install a new HVAC unit in Hades? Trailer Trash Kevin Smith, well same ole gibberish!
Mark's for the Braves
February 28th, 2012
1:22 pm
Nice to know Chipper played during the steroids era, but never gave in and used them. Hope he has a great year and a great 2013 if he wants to play again next year.
JSS
February 28th, 2012
1:26 pm
And where was all of this indignation when he was sitting in the presence of Ken Caminiti?
Skeezix
February 28th, 2012
1:34 pm
On a few occasions when my allergies have been completely out of control, the allergist has to put me on steroids–usually for just 5-7 days. They do a great job on the allergy symptons, but after two days on them, I can hardly sleep, always feel like I have had ten cups of coffee, and my wife says I become cranky and hyperactive.
I have no idea how these athletes can stand to feel like that over the course of a season.
dre
February 28th, 2012
2:05 pm
Shoz, I am with you.
dre
February 28th, 2012
2:07 pm
Class Act…LOL. Shtuupping a Hooters waitress while married, that’s claaaaassss. haha
longshot151
February 28th, 2012
2:07 pm
Really, what did you expect Chipper to say?
As for the 5 Braves who did use steroids, who cares?
Chipper Jones admits he thought about using steroids years ago | Larry Brown Sports
February 28th, 2012
2:22 pm
[...] mean, definitely,” Chipper said Monday when asked if he ever considered using performance-enhancing drugs. “You see peers doing it. You see contemporaries on other teams [...]
Sonny Clusters
February 28th, 2012
2:56 pm
“The guys who get done with their career and make it through the so-called steroid era unscathed, that’s a huge feather in our cap.” – uh, Chipper
Well, if he says so. We would think unscathed could mean a few different things and the absence of cheating and wrongdoing is sort of expected, don’t you think? We’re not sure it a “huge feather in our cap” like Chipper says. We was wondering if it’s harder to tip a cap with a feather in it?
JSS
February 28th, 2012
3:23 pm
“We was wondering if it’s harder to tip a cap with a feather in it?”
You mean like when he was pimping at the Hooters?
Terry Rasmussen
February 28th, 2012
3:28 pm
I have loved Chipper Jones since the day he became an Atlanta Brave. My oldest son, soon to be 24, has been a fan his entire life. I remember that it was Chipper that inspired us to have Daniel’s (my son) 8th birthday at the Braves game in June 1996. He invited the whole family, his aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents and siblings all got to go and a few friends. We were treated wonderfully by the Braves staff. He was given a birthday party in a covered tent area; and every guest was given multiple Braves souvenirs to take home. The fans were a BIG hit that day!!! It was a very special day for my son. We still love to watch Chipper and will be sad to ever see him leave. Let’s see, Daniel has been watching him since he was 6 and he is almost 24, that is 18 years! Has he really been with the Braves that long? He will be so missed when he leaves!
Ed
February 28th, 2012
3:35 pm
“Jones will go into the Hall of Fame one day.”
I don’t know if I share your optimism, Jeff, but I sure hope you are right. Barring injuries, I think he’d be a lock because he would have passed important milestones by now, including the 500 home-run barrier. He sure has been fun to watch and pull for over the years.
Braves will be better off with a more aggressive mindset | Jeff Schultz
February 28th, 2012
3:44 pm
[...] • Chipper Jones takes shots at drug cheaters (but he considered it too) [...]
Gimpah & McError
February 28th, 2012
4:09 pm
But, has Gimper ever used Viagra?
johnson bratsworth
February 28th, 2012
4:26 pm
CHIPPER
Meitzsche
February 28th, 2012
4:43 pm
Im 20 years old and Chipper has/was/is my favorite brave all time. If I found out he had been using it would really hurt the way I view the game of baseball. I cant wait to raise my future braves fans and tell them about the Hall of Famer by the name of Chipper Jones
LWells2000
February 28th, 2012
4:47 pm
Chipper says it, I believe him, that’s final. In my book, a chip off the old block…his daddy. Great player, great example, first draftee into the Hall.
Dugout Central » Blog Archive » Chipper Jones: A Class Act for Avoiding Performance-Enhancing Drugs?
February 28th, 2012
5:07 pm
[...] Chipper Jones believes he did things “the right way” because he did not us performance-enhancing drugs: Jones will go into the Hall of Fame one day. He [...]
AndOhByTheWay
February 28th, 2012
5:20 pm
No time for steroids. Trying to juggle wife and mistress (or two) required clear head and enough focus to not get stories confused that drugs could not have been considered. HOF, maybe. But on a table, in a corner – not on polished marble pedestal.
Chipper Jones: A Class Act for Avoiding Performance-Enhancing Drugs? | :: Sparxxrx LLC ::
February 28th, 2012
5:31 pm
[...] Chipper Jones believes he did things “the right way” because he did not us performance-enhancing drugs: Jones will go into the Hall of Fame one day. He [...]
rick
February 28th, 2012
5:40 pm
I hope he sticks around and gets 3000 hits, he deserves it
Creegah
February 28th, 2012
6:00 pm
“The sample was stored in the tester’s home over a weekend because he believed Federal Express was closed.”
Not quite.
There were FIVE FedEx offices open between the ballpark and the tester’s home but the last plane between Milwaukee and the lab had since departed and the rules suggest that the sample would be better off staying with the tester than spending a weekend unguarded at the FedEx office.
Speedy Gonzalez ( Fredis cousin)
February 28th, 2012
6:26 pm
Javy Lopez, Julio Franco, Bret Boone just some of the former Braves to juice, Javy had 1 big year with 41 homers, then gets paid & declines in Baltimore, Julio & his “Jesus is my juice” bs, yeah right!!!
Jason
February 28th, 2012
6:33 pm
I am glad the question was asked of Chipper, if he had ever taken PED’s and that his Dad asked. I always wondered, and I am glad to hear him answer that question. Like some others I use to wonder if the frequent injuries had anything to do with PED’s. Let me hope he is truthful, or else i would be a disappointed fool.
Tucker Tiger
February 28th, 2012
7:30 pm
I wonder if his dad was upset when he cheated on his wife? Cheating on a wife or in baseball…same thing.
JSS
February 28th, 2012
8:04 pm
He’ll always pull an oblique as he tells us to “kiss his rear!”
You jokes still think “Mr. 125 games a year if he’s lucky” is going to squeeze 385 hits out of the next two years? He has no one to blame for not getting to 3,000 but himself! 2004, 2005, and 2006 when he was stealing the Braves money did him in on the chance!
Steroids tempted Chipper Jones
February 28th, 2012
8:21 pm
[...] According to a recent story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Chipper Jones considered taking performance enhancing drugs at one point during his 18-year career with the Atlanta Braves. [...]
Jojo
February 28th, 2012
8:46 pm
Yeah Chipper!! Play till your sons can play right along beside you!! Wouldn’t that be a Hoot(er) ?!
Brian
February 29th, 2012
10:23 am
I will cry when Chipper retires…..cry like a baby. He has been my favorite player since 1994 in all levels of baseball. When you put career stats of bonds and Sosa next to chippers, are they really all that grand? Hell no. I just hope the braves tend to chipper unlike smoltz and glav.
George
February 29th, 2012
11:53 am
Just curious, where in proof does it say that Pete Rose bet AGAINST his own team?
David
March 2nd, 2012
9:59 am
If Chipper played in New York or Boston or Philadelphia, ESPN and the rest of the media would have already declared him a first ballot Hall of Famer… but they continue to debate it… he is the best switch hitter of all-time… and yes, that includes Mickey…
mistermak
March 3rd, 2012
12:45 am
The problem with the drug testing in MLB is the protocol! The samples should never be allowed to go home with anybody. they need to schedule the collection times so they have time to get them to Fed ex or whomever will be shipping them. If anybody reading this had a urine sample that went home with the collector over the weekend you would cry foul also. It is MLB’s fault (once again) for not having a better protocol for collecting and shipping the samples!
mistermak
March 3rd, 2012
12:51 am
I have to agree with JSS. I say Chipper wont play 100 games this year. You know his toe hurts, or th ever popular oblique that noone can verify. or maybe just a good old fashioned headache from too much JD the night before! I for one will be glad when he is back on the ranch! this game if for the young guns!!
The Locker
March 5th, 2012
11:09 pm
[...] Chipper takes shots at drug cheaters (though he considered it) [...]